Dan Brannan is Content Director of RiverBender and EdGlenToday.com. Dan started at Riverbender.com/Edglentoday.com in December 2014. He is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL with degrees in Journalism and Psychology. Having previously served as the Executive Editor of The Telegraph in Alton, his 17-year tenure led the paper to over 350 awards including several General Excellence awards in the Illinois Press Association, Illinois Associated Press, Freedom Communications, Southern Illinois Editorial Association and Journal Register Company contests. Brannan was chosen to lead Freedom Communications' national pilot on social media.
He is the author of eight nonfiction books including: "The Courage to Live," a biography about Donna Gustavel, a young woman with multiple disabilities; "Everyday Angels," an inspirational book of moving human interest stories; "Live Life to the Fullest: Stories of People Coping With Diabetes" which is endorsed by the American Diabetes Association; "Boy Giant: The Story of Robert Wadlow The World's Tallest Man;" "Damn Cold and Starving" written with Sgt. Marion Ray; "You Can't Kill the Dream" co-written with fellow journalist Ande Yakstis; and "A Life in Parts," the story of Loretta Goebel and endorsed by Beatle Paul McCartney.
Dan, an avid exercise enthusiast, is a member of the American Diabetes Association and lives in Maryville. Dan has two children in college - Savannah and Sierra.
MT. VERNON/CHARLESTON, IL. - The National Weather Service has confirmed at least three tornadoes from Sunday, June 21, 2026, storms in Southern Illinois and western Kentucky, including an EF3 that killed two Jefferson County residents, while survey crews continue assessing additional reports of...
ALTON - Elijah Heru has signed to attend Blackburn College, where he will compete for the school’s Division III track and field team and major in business management. “It was a perfect fit for me athletically and academically,” he said after his signing. Heru, who was named...
ALTON — Karly Davenport recently concluded her track and field career at Marquette Catholic, earning recognition as the Tucker's Automotive Repair & Tire Female Athlete of the Month after a season that included school records, meet victories, and praise from head Explorers Coach Billy Sprague....
ALTON - The Alton River Dragons announced on Monday, June 22, 2026, that pitching coach Andrew Olney will assume the role of field manager and Blake Vandiver has been elevated to hitting coach for the remainder of the 2026 season. Olney is a veteran coach with scholastic, elite travel, and collegiate...
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County Police and regional bomb and arson investigators are investigating a fatal house fire that left an adult man dead early Monday, June 22, 2026, in the 2500 block of Palm Drive. Officers from the North County Precinct responded at about 5:30 a.m. Monday, June 22,...
MADISON COUNTY - The Madison County Sheriff’s Office started an Independence Day traffic enforcement campaign in the county on June 19, 2026, and it runs through July 6, 2026, targeting impaired drivers and seat belt law violators as part of a broader statewide effort. The enforcement campaign...
ALTON - The 35th annual Alton Juneteenth Celebration drew an estimated 900 to 1,000 people recently to James Killion Park at Salu, where organizers said the event continued its long-running tradition of bringing the community together through speakers, entertainment, vendors, and family activities....
JEFFERSON COUNTY - Two Jefferson County residents died in a tornado that struck the area Sunday night, June 21, 2026, according to information from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, which also said volunteer groups and government officials are working on cleanup in affected areas. The victims...
SHILOH - A construction worker who was struck by a vehicle Friday morning, June 19, 2026, in Shiloh later died at a hospital, and the crash remains under investigation by local police and the Illinois State Police. The Shiloh Police Department said officers responded at about 10:48...
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Bradley Tueth placed third in the 400-meter dash at Adidas Nationals Elite, finishing in a personal-best 48.33 in one of the top times in the area’s history. Competing at the national meet in Greensboro, N.C., Tueth lowered his previous personal best of 48.80, which...
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